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TRANSCRIPT
PASSIONIST INDIA ACTIVITIES NEWS OUTREACH July-2021
Volume-8, Issue-07
P
I
A
N
O
Dear Friends,
Greetings of peace and joy! Hope you are all doing well.
“A Caged Bird can still Sing”
As I write this short note today, the 28th of July, the Catholic Church in India is observing this day as National Justice
Day. It is a day to remember and pray for all those who cry out for justice, and in a special way, it is a day to remember
the legacy of Fr. Stan Swamy, S.J. who died while in judicial custody on the 5th of this month. His crime? Refusing to be
a silent spectator! He spoke against the growing inequalities, violence and atrocities committed against the most
disadvantaged people of India-the Dalits and the Adivasis (the indigenous people).
Fr. Stan was picked up from Bagaicha, the Jesuit Social Action Centre, in the wee hours of
8thOctober 2020 on the pretext of being a threat to the national security and for being
actively involved in the Maoist outfit banned by law, both of which were false accusations.
For more than 40 years he worked among the tribal people of Jharkhand whose lives and
livelihood were being plundered by the rich, the powerful, the corporates and those in
political power. Obviously, he was a thorn in the flesh of those who had vested interest in
the tribal land rich with mineral wealth. He had to be removed once and for all! The easiest
way, slap him with the most atrocious law of the land, the UAPA, under which no one can
get bail easily and they can be detained indefinitely. That is precisely what the NIA did,
kept this frail 84-year-old priest suffering from Parkinson’s disease in custody, refusing even to give him a straw and a
sipper. Despite the cruel treatments meted out to him in prison, they could not silence him. In a letter he wrote from
prison to a Jesuit confrere, he highlighted the plight of the under-trials and ended the letter with the words: “But we
will still sing in chorus. A caged bird can still sing”.
Dear friends, as we remember this martyr of our times, let us stand up for what we believe in. Our faith takes us to the
One who endured the passion and death on the cross because he refused to remain a silent spectator.
When asked why he always remained in silent reflection in front of a monolith bearing the names of the slain tribal
activists, Fr. Stan used to say: “I pray that my spirit may be infused with the spirit of the Adivasi martyrs”. So now, as we
pay homage to him, let us pray that we too may be infused with the spirit of this martyr for Christ who sang of gospel
justice even while caged in in jail.
I would like to conclude this reflection by quoting the words of an American writer, poet and philosopher, Suzy Kassem:
“Stand up to hypocrisy, because if you don’t, the hypocrites will teach. Stand up to ignorance, because if you don’t, the
ignorant will run free to spread ignorance like a disease. Stand up for truth, if you don’t, then there is no truth to your
existence. If you don’t stand up for all that is right, then understand that you are part of the reason why there is so
much wrong in the world.”
Fraternally,
Paul Cherukoduth, C.P.
Vice Provincial
Page 2 PIANO July, 2021 Volume-8, Issue-07
UPDATES
Fr. Francis is appointed as Superior of Calvary Ashram, Angamaly. Congratulations dear Fr. Francis and
Welcome Back to India. (Left Below) Retired Supreme Court Judge visited Palliport Community. (Right
Below)
AUGUST
Birthdays
Titus 02
Jerson 03
Einstein 06
Prem 06
Thomas 11
Saji 22
Christudasan 25
Antony Thomas 28
Ordination
Xavier USA 24
Feast
Assumption 15
Independence
Day
15
Bl. Dominic
Barberi
26
Fr. Paul Presided over the celebration of the Inauguration of the New Academic year
at St. Gabriel’s Minor Seminary, Kochi. (Above) Hearty welcome to Fr. Benson as he
joins Kochi Community as Vocation Director. (Right Below)
Page 3 PIANO July, 2021 Volume-8, Issue-07
Feast of St. Thomas the
Apostle was celebrated at
Jeevadhama. Fr. Paul presided
over the Eucharist and
conferred the Ministry of
Acolyte to Bros. Alphin, Don
and Christudasan, joined by
Carmelaram community.
Fr. Sony joins Jeevadhama
community on his sabbatical
year (Left & Below)
Jeeva Ootru Community and Fr. Louis (Vocation Director) welcomed William and Roshan, candidates
for Minor Seminary. Due to Covid situation the students will be staying at Randham for a short period of
time under the guidance of Fr. Rajan. (Below)
Page 4 PIANO July, 2021 Volume-8, Issue-07
Appointments and Transfers...
Fr. Paul visited St. Gemma
Novitiate, Nilambur and
Fr. Muthappan joined the
community as Administrator
who will pursue his M. Com
Studies (Left)
Fr. Jithin began his classes at
Dharmaram Vidya
Kshetram, Bangalore for his
Masters in Formation
Course. All the best. (Right)
Fr. Sebastian KX re-joined the Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of
Health, Velankanni for Malayalam speaking pilgrims.
Fr. Paschal will minister to the Konkani speaking pilgrims and
Fr. Antony John will continue to assist for the Kannada
speaking pilgrims. All the best dear Fathers. (Above)
Fr. Sugun joined
St. Peter’s
Pontifical
Seminary,
Bangalore for his
studies of
Masters in
Canon Law.
Best wishes...
Page 5 PIANO July, 2021 Volume-8, Issue-07
THOM Vice - Province: On-going Covid Relief Works at Palliport
Fr. Paul visited the Palliport community and initiated the
on going Covid relief works. (Above)
Vaccination Camp organized by Passionist Congregation
at Palliport Parish in collaboration with St. Joseph
Hospital, Manjummel. 300 people were vaccinated with
their fist dose. (Below)
Study materials were distributed tot he School/College going students in the Parish at Palliport as the
on-going Covid Relief Work. (Below)
Page 6 PIANO July, 2021 Volume-8, Issue-07
Renovation works and Painting of the Church is going on at Sennatur, one of the substations of
Randham Mission. The finance was fully funded by the parishnors and the people were very generous
with their free labour amidst the trying times. (Below)
Thanks to the Members of MFC Missionaries from Bangalore for their generosity towards the
Second phase of Covid Relief works in Randham mission. The relief materials were distributed to the
poorest in the parish. (Above & Below)
THOM Vice - Province: On-going Covid Relief Works at Randham Mission
Page 7 PIANO July, 2021 Volume-8, Issue-07
St. Thomas the Apostle, Vice Province, (THOM)
Congregation of the Passion,
Passionist Jyotir Bhavan,
Carmelaram, P.O. Bangalore - 560035.
Karnataka, India. Mob: +91-8129195929
Email ID: [email protected],
www.indiapassionists.org.
Verba volant, scripta manent!
THOM Vice - Province: On-going Covid Relief Works at Randham Mission
Educational help to the poor at Randham Mission.
Thanks to the Passionist and to the MFC
Missionaries, Bangalore for their contribution .
Most of these students are first generation of
Graduates in their family. (Above & Right)
Compound wall around the Church at Ladapady: The parishnors funding this work under the leadership
of Fr. Nambikairaj, a much needed facility for safe worship. Every family is contributing to this cause by
their little money and their free labour in this difficult time. (Below)